Certified: Rising to the challenge

Certified follows a group of aspiring CPAs while they prepare for and take the various sections of the CPA exam. We started following our candidates in May 2016, and this is part three of Donald Jungquist’s story. Read part one and part two.

Don Jungquist has received his notice to schedule and he will take the Business Environmental Concepts (BEC) section on July 21. He recently took a couple weeks off from the nonstop studying grind to give his mind a rest before he dives into the last bit of studying before the exam.

“I’m really glad I took that break,” he said. “It was nice to have days where I came home and didn’t have to worry about studying and I got to spend more time with my wife.”

He has scheduled to take the whole week off work before BEC strictly to study, because he doesn’t want any distractions going into his first section.

“I’m feeling really good about where I’m at,” he said. “I understand the CPA exam is going to be the hardest test I’ve ever taken, but I’ve put in a lot of time. I would be really surprised if I didn’t pass this, just because I spent so much time doing the homework problems and going over the Becker textbook.”

In addition to the textbook, he’s also started listening to CPA exam audiobooks. It’s been helpful for him as a new way to process the information, and gives him the chance to get outside and go on walks.

Jungquist said he doesn’t typically have test anxiety or do any pre-test rituals, but will try to go for a long walk, do some yoga and relax beforehand. He said he thinks the process of studying for the CPA exam will be helpful for his career long-term, and make him mentally capable of things that seem daunting in the beginning.

“When I think about it all at once, it seems totally overwhelming,” he said. “But it puts things in perspective, because I think there are going to be times in my career where something is way too complicated. With the CPA exam you have to practice and practice and then you’re going to be able to do it. It’s raised the bar on what I’m capable of.”